I am about to change a leaking water pump on my 96 Stratus. Has anyone done this before? Are there any hidden pitfalls? Any special tips or tricks to making the job easier, it appears that I will have to do this by removing the front wheel and fender well splash guards to get at the pump. Any advice?
IWantARam
01-04-2003, 04:25 PM
Well, my water pump was just changed on my 96, but I had the dealer do it (while they were replacing the broken timing belt which left me stranded on the road :grum: ). So I hardly even know where the water pump is without looking. Sorry I can't help.
eagleflight44
01-05-2003, 11:27 AM
Thanks, I found where its located and it appears to be a major project. After removing the splash guard it seems as though the crankshaft pulley must be removed followed by the timing belt and pulley assemblies before you get to the water pump. According to specs, it should take 4 hours (I figure that should double at least for me doing the work). Just FYI in case you wanted to tackle it in the future.
IWantARam
01-11-2003, 05:24 PM
Wow, makes me glad that I didn't try to do all that myself. Not being a serious mechanic (like my dad), that much work would have taken me all day to do and then it still wouldn't work right. Did you run into any problems on it?
eagleflight44
01-12-2003, 07:51 AM
Haven't gotten down to any work on it yet. Have had other priorities take precedence during the past week. Also have been pricing repair shops and dealerships to see if it would be worth having them do it instead. I've found prices running between 300 and 500 for the job with all of their books indicating at least a 4 hour job for the mechanic. Two things have me concerned with doing it myself, the amount of space you have to do the work and the timing belt being in the way. The way I'm figuring it, if the shop screws up the time they eat that, if i do it the cost of my repair job will go through the roof very fast. So right now I'm still leaning toward the shop doing the work.
McClane
01-13-2003, 12:02 PM
Welcome to cab forward design. When I had my 98 Breeze, I looked in the engine compartment and said to myself "holy cow, that is very cramped."
I think in a case like this it would be better to pay someone for the repair. There really isn't much space in there and it maybe worth it to pay someone to bang up their knuckles.
eagleflight44
01-13-2003, 09:21 PM
Quite true, I guess 'cab forward' is just another name for 'repair nightmare' or just perhaps another means by which designers are helping to do away with the do it yourself crowd.
jimpierson
01-13-2003, 09:52 PM
I have changed many waterpumps in the stratus/breeze and I can tell you that it is a very difficult job and well worth paying a tech to do. You didn't mention whether you have the 2.4 L. or the 2.0L. engine. Setting the timing up on the 2.4 can be very tricky.
mfincham
04-10-2003, 03:28 AM
I replaced water pump on my 1996 stratus and now the car runs real crappy, but only when coming to stop light or in idle. any suggestions on what this might be. The check engine light was on and the code pointed to the EGR so that was repleaced. Check engine light was out for about 2 days then came back, the code was now O2 sensor. That was replaced along with plugs and wires and cleaning of throttle body unit. Car still run terrible in idle and continues to stall at stop lights. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
